Dr. Saul Hinojosa serves as executive-in-residence at NIET. In this role, he is responsible for expanding the reach of NIET’s partnerships across Texas. Dr. Hinojosa served as Superintendent of Schools for Somerset ISD for 15 years and established strong collaboration with NIET which resulted in exemplary student performance and growth that positioned this A-rated school district organization as a leader in the field. During his tenure, Somerset ISD was recognized at the regional, state, and national levels for academic achievement and innovation, particularly its success in recruiting, developing and retaining effective educators. Data continues to reflect how campuses are closing achievement gaps and mitigating the equity divide.

Saul has been an advocate for school reform and was strategic in utilizing NIET’s research-based best practices as a transformational model to ensure that students in classrooms received high-quality, rigorous instruction. Somerset ISD won numerous accolades under his leadership, and his commitment to supporting policies that best serve students resulted in invitations to testify before the United States Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the Texas House of Representatives Education Committee. Other career highlights include a 2022 National Blue Ribbon Campus, 2022 Regional Superintendent of the Year award, 2021 Regional Board of the Year, 2019 South San Antonio Chamber Legend Recipient, 2018 University Council for Educational Administration Leadership Award, and 2017 Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas Community Builder Award.

His passion for leadership and learning extends to the university level where he taught educational leadership courses and currently serves as a mentor and professional coach for aspiring and newly appointed superintendents. 

Saul grew up in the small rural town of Freer, Texas. He earned his Doctorate of Education from the University of Texas-Austin, Masters from Texas A&M-Kingsville and Bachelors from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos.